Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Subjugation
[ Monster Breeding ]
Level: 3
Dimensional Space: 500m (diameter)
Summonable Units:
- Pyrotoad Serpent: 1x (Level 20)
- Hellfire Wolves: 230x (Lesser Demons)
- Undead Horses: 50x (Lesser Demons)
- Skeletal Warriors: 69 (Lesser Demons)
- Spectral Spiders: 80x (Lesser Demons)
- Soulreaver Tigers: 75x (Lesser Demons)
As Aengus and his ever-growing army approached the outskirts of the Naga Tribe's territory, he surveyed the landscape from his vantage point atop Gabi, the three-headed Hydra.
The sight before him was both eerie and foreboding—a mid-sized village situated deep within swamps and marshlands, its wooden and bone-made houses huddled together behind a crude but imposing wall. The air was full with humidity, and the stench of decay wafted up from the stagnant waters surrounding the settlement.
Aengus's forces, now bolstered to over 500 Lesser Demons and 15 Greater Demons, moved silently through the marshes, their presence blending into the murky surroundings like shadows.
Each creature within his ranks was a embodiment of his power.
He also got some abilities from them: Spectral Spider Web for ensnaring enemies, Soul Drain to weaken foes and enhance his vitality, Pain Resistance to endure the harshest of battles, and Deathly Grasp to crush the life out of his enemies.
From his high perch, Aengus could see the flicker of torchlight within the village, the faint outlines of the Naga warriors patrolling the perimeter. The Naga King's forces were numerous and formidable, with dozens of Greater Demons under his command, but Aengus's confidence did not waver.
He had come this far, amassing a small army in mere hours, and he knew that this village, and the power it held, would soon be his.
He turned his gaze toward Sienna, who was standing at the front of his forces with her father, Sanka. Both were visibly nervous, the gravity of what was about to unfold pressing down on them like the thick, oppressive air of the swamps. Sienna, despite her anxiety, met Aengus's eyes and gave a slight nod, signaling that they had arrived at the threshold of their destination.
"Is that your tribe?" Aengus asked, his voice calm.
"Yes, my lord," Sienna replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "That is the Naga Tribe's village. The Naga King resides within, surrounded by his strongest warriors. As I told before he had nearly 400 lesser demons and 50 Greater Demons that works under him. He is tyrannical and he won't wield so easily. "
Aengus looked back at the village, "We will see about that. It's time to show them the true meaning of power."
Sienna could only chuckled at that. "Only time will tell that."
With a gesture, he commanded his forces to halt just beyond the village's sight. The time for conquest was near, and he wanted to savor every moment of it. The Naga Tribe would soon learn that no wall could protect them from the might of Aengus and his ever-growing army.
"Prepare yourselves," Aengus ordered, his voice carrying across the ranks. "Tonight, we take this tribe, and with it, the power of the Naga King. Let no one stand in our way."
"Your wish is our command!"
The demons roared in unison, and his Legion howled that echoed through the marshes, signaling the beginning of the end for the Naga Tribe.
----
"Achoo!" One Naganian guard sneezed.
"Did you hear something?" The guard standing before the gate of the Naga tribe asked. There were three or four of them, all in their humanoid Naganian form.
"What? I didn't hear anything. You're imagining things," another guard replied with a laugh.
"Awooo..."
"Huh, now you hear that? I told you I wasn't just hearing things," the first guard sneered.
"Yeah, I hear it too," the other guard admitted.
Paah!
"Bastard! If you can hear it, why haven't you sounded the alert signal?" A stern-looking blue-skinned Naganian delivered a sharp slap, his face filled with anger at their stupidity.
"Uh, yes, right away, Captain!" The guard, holding his swollen cheek, replied hastily.
The captain cursed under his breath, "Useless morons."
"Captain!" another guard called out, looking into the distance. "Captain, we're under attack!" he shouted.
The captain turned to see and his heart skipped a beat. Hundreds of Hellfire wolves and other wild demonic creatures were charging toward them.
"Quick, inform everyone! Prepare for battle!" he shouted in panic.
"Yes, Captain!"
The sound of gongs echoed throughout the tribal community, alerting everyone.
Within minutes, nearly 300 lesser demons and 40 greater Nagas had gathered on the barren land before their tribe, ready for the imminent battle.
The tribesmen and women, along with the elders, watched anxiously from the gate and high-rise buildings.
In the distance, the Naganians spotted Aengus standing with an air of grace atop a three-headed Hydra. Surrounding him were his subordinates—sixteen mighty beasts, including three-headed Hydras and Hellfire Gillians, each radiating a formidable aura that sent shivers through the ranks of the Naga tribe.
"Who is that? He looks like the leader of this force. He seems powerful," one of the guards muttered, his voice tinged with both awe and unease.
"Commander, should we inform the king?" a young Naga named Sentaro asked the robust and fierce-looking Naganian commander, his eyes wide with concern.
The Commander of the Nagas sneered, contempt dripping from his tone. "No need. He's just another arrogant royal blood. I can sense it. Coming to defeat us with just sixteen greater demons? Ridiculous."
Another guard, eager to curry favor, chimed in, "Yes, Commander! What a joke! We have forty greater demons here. We can crush him easily."
"B-but... what if..." Sentaro stammered, his voice faltering as a sense of dread gnawed at him. Before he could voice his concerns, the commander cut him off sharply.
"Enough, Sentaro! Get back to your post. And why didn't your father, Sanka, join us? Do you want this month's resources or not?" the commander snapped, his eyes narrowing with irritation.
Sentaro hesitated, then replied, "Commander, my father went hunting but hasn't returned since." Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked away, ignoring the commander's grumbling. A bitter sense of unfairness gnawed at him. His father risked his life on dangerous hunts, yet these cowards lounged around, hoarding the spoils and denying his family even a scrap of meat.
"Bastard! I'll deal with your insolence later!" the commander cursed under his breath, but Sentaro didn't care.